,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gdaf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #cj1 #bjbj,mr4 ,bost 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,lamb1 ,mr4 ,gibbs1 ,mr4 ,reschenthaler1 ,mrs4 ,hartzler1 ,mr4 ,loebsack1 and ,mrs4 ,miller7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 to allow the ,administrator of the ,maritime ,administration to provide assistance to the owners and operators of certain ports and terminals1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,coastal and ,inland ,ports and ,terminals ,commerce ,improvement ,act4 #b4 ,assistance for inland and small coastal ports and terminals ,section #ejcjb of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7,h7 ,in the case of a small project funded under subsection 7d71 a private entity or group of entities4 2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#f7 by striking subparagraph 7,c72 7,c7 in paragraph 7#g77;,b7 by striking paragraph 7#c77;,a7 and inserting subsection 7d72 7,d7 in paragraph 7#h77;,b7-- 7i7 in clause 7i7 by striking under this subsection and inserting under this subsection and subsection 7d72 and 7ii7 in clause 7ii7 by inserting under subsection 7d7 or after project2 and 7,e7 in paragraph 7#aa7 by-- 7i7 striking under this subsection and inserting under this subsection and subsection 7d7 each place such phrase appears2 and 7ii7 striking fiscal year4 and inserting fiscal year1 and shall be awarded as grants under the subsection for which the original grant was made42 7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7d7 as subsection 7e72 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7c7 the following3 7d7 ,assistance for inland and small coastal ports and terminals 7#a7 ,in general ,of amounts reserved under subsection 7c77#g77;,b71 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,maritime ,administration1 shall make grants under this subsection-- 7,a7 to the owners or operators of a facility at a port1 as such term is defined in subsection 7c71 to and from which the average annual tonnage of cargo for the immediately preceding #c calendar years from the time an application is submitted is less than #h1jjj1jjj short tons as determined using ,corps of ,engineers data2 and 7,b7 for infrastructure improvements1 equipment purchases1 and capital investments at such a facility1 including piers1 wharves1 docks1 terminals1 and similar structures used principally for the movement of goods1 including areas of land1 water1 or areas in proximity to such structure that are necessary for the movement of goods4 7#b7 ,awards ,in providing assistance under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 take into account-- 7i7 the economic advantage and the contribution to freight transportation at an eligible facility2 and 7ii7 the competitive disadvantage of an eligible facility2 7,b7 not make more than #a award per applicant for each fiscal year appropriation2 and 7,c7 promote the enhancement and efficiencies of an eligible facility4 7#c7 ,use of funds 7,a7 ,in general ,assistance provided under this subsection may be used to-- 7i7 make capital improvements2 7ii7 construct1 improve1 repair1 or maintain transportation or physical infrastructure1 buildings1 equipment1 or facility security2 7iii7 perform planning activities related to carrying out an activity described in clause 7i72 and 7iv7 otherwise fulfill the purposes for which such assistance is provided4 7,b7 ,acquisition methods ,the ,secretary may not require as a condition of issuing a grant under this subsection-- 7i7 direct ownership of either a facility or equipment to be procured using funds awarded under this subsection2 or 7ii7 that equipment procured using such funds be new4 7#d7 ,prohibited uses ,funds provided under this subsection may not be used for-- 7,a7 projects conducted on property lying outside port or terminal boundaries and not owned or leased by the applicant2 7,b7 any single grant award more than #aj percent of total allocation of funds to carry out this subsection per fiscal year appropriation2 or 7,c7 activities1 including channel improvements or harbor deepening1 authorized1 as of the date of the application for assistance under this subsection1 to be carried out by of the ,corps of ,engineers4 7#e7 ,matching requirements 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may not provide assistance under this subsection unless the ,secretary determines that sufficient funding is available to meet the matching requirements of subsection 7c77#h74 ,any costs of the project to be paid by the recipient's matching share may be incurred prior to the date on which assistance is provided4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,for the purpose of making the determination under subparagraph 7,a71 funding may include a loan agreement1 a commitment from investors1 cash on balance sheet1 or other contributions determined acceptable by the ,secretary4 7#f7 ,application and award 7,a7 ,minimum standards for payment or reimbursement ,each application submitted shall include a comprehensive description of-- 7i7 the project2 7ii7 the need for the project2 7iii7 the methodology for implementing the project2 and 7iv7 documentation of matching funds as described in paragraph 7#e74 7,b7 ,demonstration of effectiveness ,in determining whether a project will achieve the purposes for which such assistance is requested under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall accept documentation used to obtain a commitment of the matching funds described in paragraph 7#e71 including feasibility studies1 business plans1 investor prospectuses1 loan applications1 or similar documentation4 7,c7 ,project approval required ,the ,secretary may not award a grant under this subsection unless the ,secretary determines that the-- 7i7 project will be completed without unreasonable delay2 and 7ii7 recipient has authority to carry out the proposed project4 7#g7 ,procedural safeguards1 audits1 and examinations 7,a7 ,procedural safeguards ,the ,administrator shall issue guidelines to establish appropriate accounting1 reporting1 and review procedures to ensure that-- 7i7 assistance provided under this subsection is used for the purposes for which such assistance is made available2 and 7ii7 grantees have properly accounted for all expenditures of grant funds4 7,b7 ,audits and examinations ,all grantees under this subsection shall maintain such records as the ,administrator may require and make such records available for review and audit by the ,administrator4 7#h7 ,limitation ,not more than #aj percent of the funds made available under subsection 7c77#g77;,b7 may be used for the planning and design of eligible projects described in paragraph 7#c77;,a77iii74 7#i7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,eligible facility ,the term eligible facility means a facility or collection of facilities that includes piers1 wharves1 docks1 terminals1 and similar structures used principally for the movement of goods1 including areas of land1 water1 or areas in proximity to such structure that are necessary for the movement of goods1 located at a port1 as that term is defined in subsection 7c71 to and from which the average annual tonnage of cargo for the immediately preceding #c calendar years from the time an application is submitted is less than #h1jjj1jjj short tons as determined using ,corps of ,engineers data4 7,b7 ,project ,the term project has the meaning given such term in subsection 7c74 4